From a young age, art + music were major parts of my life. My childhood was full of piano practices and painting lessons. Having parents who exposed me to all sorts of art shaped me into a person who appreciated talent and I started to look for it in hidden places. From unknown painters to budding musicians I decided to establish a series featuring the creators who I know and love and want you to love too!! Wanna help? Read about these amazing people, scope their work, and share their interviews with the artists in your life!!

Today I have the privilege of sharing an interview with Bret from Bogan Via. I remember stumbling upon Bogan Via on Spotify back in 2012 or so when they released their first album, ‘Wait Up,’ full of funky tracks featuring repetitive acoustics and mystical vocals from Maddie + Bret. Songs like ‘Kanye’ and ‘Madly’ perfectly showcase their unique sound which has transformed over time into their more polished pop-infused album ‘Boganvialand.’ I could imagine them opening for Oh Wonder, so if you’re a fan of that duo you should definitely give Bogan Via a listen!!

Pop in some earbuds and listen to my fave Bogan Via song, ‘Wait Up,’ as you read this fresh interview down below!!​

How did you get your start in music?B: My mom always had a piano at her house and one day I just became very curious about it and couldn't really pull myself away. Took a few piano lessons and then started writing songs.

3 things that make you laugh:B: Dwight from the Office, our friends, silly gifs on the internet

What kind of music did you listen to growing up?B: The oldies, 94.5 back in AZ. My mom also listened to CSNY, Yes, and Jackson Brown type stuff.

If you weren’t pursuing music what would you be doing?B: I love anything artistic and creative so maybe I'd paint more or write scripts for movies or something.

What time of day do you feel the most inspired?B: I am definitely a morning guy by nature. Hanging out with nocturnal Madeleine has definitely pushed my clock back a bit but the morning still has the magic.

Which comes first: lyrics or composition?B: I am definitely not a lyric guy so it would have to be the composition. I usually just play the piano and start making sounds that feel right out of my mouth and then later try to put words that sort of sound like those sounds.​

How do you define the difference between a hobby and a passion?B: I would just say your commitment level. People spend a lot of time and money on both I would imagine but the passion should be something that continues to grow and expand. My passions feed my soul while my hobbies add variety to my day.If you could go on tour with any artist or band who would you choose?B: We love going on tour so we're pretty open. But as far as crazy dream tour let's get Paul McCartney, Radiohead, and ROAR on the tour van.Where did you grow up?B: I grew up in Phoenix, but more specifically the east side, Tempe. Maddie is a west sider.How has living in Phoenix, AZ influenced your sound?B: I'm not sure really. For a long time I didn't know what kind of music scene we had cause I was so out of the loop. When I did poke my head around it seemed like bands were either super hardcore or rasta punk. Over the years I discovered local music that did inspire me but for the most part I grew up trying to make not Arizona sounding music because it felt so pigeonholed to me.What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome as a musician?B: Learning how to sing. My first big music hero was Ben Folds Five because of the piano connection, so I tried to sing like him. For years this was my style of singing and it just was not sounding good at all. It took me a long time to figure it out but I needed to discover my own voice in order to learn how to really sing.What advice would you give to a 10 year-old who wants to pursue a creative career?B: Devote 2 hours every day to improving your skills. And live life, no artist has anything worth saying or sharing without getting out there.

​You can find Bogan Via on FaceBook, Bandcamp, Pandora, Spotify, SoundCloud, and on their website ((https://www.boganvia.com/)). Interested in seeing them live? They will be playing at the Neon Desert music fest in May!!